Investigating the prevalence of long COVID in Scotland
Data on the prevalence of long COVID in Scotland.
New estimates of long COVID prevalence
This publication presents new estimates of long COVID prevalence based on secondary analysis of COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) data (Office for National Statistics, 2023). New analysis was conducted to draw out specific insights into long COVID in Scotland, as previous estimates from the CIS had limited breakdowns available at Scotland-level. The CIS was used due to its large, representative sample. Approval was granted to access the CIS data and carry out this analysis through the ONS Secure Research Service (SRS).
This written report focuses on the most recent time period of the CIS, the four-week period ending 5 March 2023, when long COVID prevalence was 3.3% (see the COVID-19 Infection Survey section). Estimates are presented by sex, age, Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile group, pre-existing health/disability status, duration since first COVID-19 infection and NHS contact at first COVID-19 infection, providing insights into the characteristics of those disproportionately affected by long COVID and the extent to which it limited their daily activities.
Further breakdowns of these characteristics by activity limitation and duration since first COVID-19 infection, as well as a time series from the four-week period ending 3 April 2022, are available in the supplementary data tables. The most common symptoms experienced by those with long COVID are also presented for the most recent time period.
Sex
There was no difference in the prevalence of self-reported long COVID between females and males in the four weeks to 5 March 2023.
In the same time period, there was no difference between the percentage of females and males reporting their ability to carry out day-to-day activities had been limited due to their long COVID symptoms, compared with the time before having COVID-19.
Age group
Prevalence of self-reported long COVID varied by age group. In the four weeks to 5 March 2023, prevalence of long COVID was lowest in those aged 2 to 16 years (0.4%) and highest in those aged 50 to 69 years (5.3%) (Figure 2).
In comparison, UK-level estimates from the ONS CIS for the same time period found prevalence was lowest in those aged 2 to 16, however highest prevalence in those aged 35 to 49 as well as those aged 50 to 69.
Figure 2: Prevalence of self-reported long COVID was lowest in those aged 2 to 16 years and highest in those aged 50 to 69 years.
Prevalence of long COVID in Scotland by age group, four-week period ending 5 March 2023.
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is a relative measure of deprivation across Scotland. SIMD ranks data zones (small areas) from most deprived to least deprived. This ranking can be split into quintiles, with the 20% most deprived data zones in Quintile 1 and the 20% least deprived data zones in Quintile 5.
Estimates of long COVID prevalence varied by SIMD quintile in the four weeks to 5 March 2023. Prevalence among those living in the most deprived areas (Quintile 1) was 4.8% (Figure 3). This is more than double the prevalence among those living in the least deprived areas (Quintile 5) (2.1%).
Figure 3: Prevalence of self-reported long COVID among those living in the most deprived areas was more than double that of those in the least deprived areas.
Prevalence of long COVID in the private residential population of Scotland by SIMD quintile, four-week period ending 5 March 2023.
Those living in the most deprived areas were also more likely to report their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been limited due to their long COVID symptoms, than those living in the least deprived areas. In the four weeks to 5 March 2023, 2.7% of those living in the most deprived areas reported their ability was limited “a little” (compared to 1.2% of those living in the least deprived areas), and 1.4% “a lot” (compared to 0.5%).
Health/disability status
The CIS asked participants about their overall health as well as long COVID. Participants were asked whether or not they had a pre-existing health condition, and if so, whether their pre-existing condition limited their activity (either “a little” or “a lot”). These estimates give valuable insight into how long COVID disproportionately affects individuals who have other health conditions, particularly those which are activity-limiting.
In the four weeks to 5 March 2023, prevalence of self-reported long COVID was higher among those whose activity was limited “a little” (8.6%) and “a lot” (12.0%) by pre-existing health conditions, compared with those who had no pre-existing health conditions (2.0%) or activity was not limited by health conditions (2.6%) (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Prevalence of self-reported long COVID was higher among those whose activity was limited a little or a lot by pre-existing health conditions.
Prevalence of long COVID in Scotland by pre-existing health/disability status, four-week period ending 5 March 2023.
Those whose activity was limited “a little” or “a lot” due to pre-existing health conditions were also more likely to report their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been limited due to their long COVID symptoms.
However, it may be difficult for some participants to separate long COVID symptoms from unrelated exacerbation of pre-existing conditions, so these estimates should be treated with caution. Health/disability status is self-reported rather than clinically diagnosed.
Duration since first (suspected) COVID-19 infection
Of those who described themselves as having long COVID, the CIS asked participants the date of either their first positive COVID-19 test or the date of first suspected infection.
Of the 172,000 people in Scotland with self-reported long COVID in the four weeks to 5 March 2023, around 4,000 (2.2%) first had (or suspected they had) COVID-19 less than 12 weeks previously. Around 110,000 (64.1%) first had (or suspected they had) COVID-19 at least one year previously, and around 58,000 (33.5%) at least two years previously (Figure 5).
Figure 5. Of those with self-reported long COVID, around a third first had (or suspected they had) COVID-19 at least two years previously.
Estimated number of people with self-reported long COVID in Scotland by duration since first COVID-19 infection, four-week period ending 5 March 2023.
Those who first had (or suspected they had) COVID-19 at least two years previously were more likely to report their long COVID symptoms had limited their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities than those who first had COVID-19 less than 12 weeks previously, and between 26 weeks and just under two years previously.
NHS contact at first (suspected) COVID-19 infection
Of those who described themselves as having long COVID, the CIS asked participants, upon their first (suspected) infection with COVID-19, whether they had no contact with NHS services, had contact with NHS services but were not hospitalised, or had contact with NHS and were hospitalised due to their symptoms.
Of the 172,000 people in Scotland with self-reported long COVID in the four weeks to 5 March 2023, around 110,000 (63.7%) had no contact with NHS services at the time of their first (suspected) COVID-19 infection. Around 55,000 (32.2%) contacted the NHS but were not hospitalised, and around 7,000 (4.1%) were hospitalised.
Those who were hospitalised at the time of their first (suspected) COVID-19 infection were more likely to report their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been limited due to their long COVID symptoms. Those who had contacted the NHS but not hospitalised were more likely to report their ability had been limited than those who did not contact NHS services.
Symptoms
The CIS asked participants with self-reported long COVID what symptoms they were experiencing. Each individual was able to select more than one symptom.
Of the 172,000 people in Scotland with self-reported long COVID in the four weeks to 5 March 2023, the most common symptoms reported were: weakness or tiredness (78.1%, 135,000), difficulty concentrating (57.8%, 100,000), muscle ache (54.4%, 94,000), shortness of breath (49.8%, 86,000) and worry or anxiety (47.8%, 82,000) (Figure 6).
Figure 6. The most common symptoms among those with self-reported long COVID were weakness or tiredness, difficulty concentrating and muscle ache.
Number of people with self-reported long COVID in Scotland experiencing each symptom, four-week period ending 5 March 2023.
Contact
For general enquiries:
Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
For enquiries about Scottish Government statistics:
Office of the Chief Statistician
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